Hysterectomy worries

[bertieallsort]

I'm having a hysterectomy in the next few weeks & I'm getting more & more anxious about it all, the physical & mental side of it. But right now my anxiety is mainly about intimacy after the surgery, im so worried that it'll change that part of my relationship. I know this is mainly my issue, my dh is being brilliant about it & says he loves me & it'll be fine but I can't help thinking I might ruin it all.

I guess I'm just wanting some advice from those who've been through it, anything I've tried to read online has been a bit scary (hystersisters etc) but my logical side knows people are more likely to share negative experiences than positive ones. I don't need any gory details (this one of first posts so I don't want anyone thinking I'm a troll or a voyeur!). I would just appreciate knowing whether I'm working myself into a panic over nothing.
Any advice about what I need for hospital or at home during my recovery would be appreciated too.

Sounds as though your recovery is going pretty well Bertie. Gentle activity is really good for your body and also psychologically I think. I saw my surgeon for a check up after 2 weeks and he gave me the all clear for yoga, cycling and other gentle exercises and said I could swim after 4 weeks post op if the wounds were healed. He gave me the ok to drive after 2 weeks which was brilliant because I live in a remote rural area. My surgeon told me that movement in the early days helps to prevent adhesions forming again, I had severe adhesions which were dealt with during my op. The tiredness does lift at around 6 weeks by which time I was virtually back to normal. There are some great post op exercise tips on the Michelle Kenway website, she’s a gynae physiotherapist.

It's great to hear about others experiences with exercise, I don't have any check up appointments so it feels a bit daunting to try to work it out for myself! I've took advantage of the sunshine & had a walk to the local park with my ds12, we got ice cream & then walked back. It did make me realise exactly where I am in my recovery, I think when you're just pottering round the house it's easy to feel comfortable but once I was outside I noticed I couldn't walk at the speed I normally would as it was tiring & sore. But if the weather stays like this I think I'll aim to do the same everyday & just try to do a little more everyday.

Bertieallsort glad you saw some sun, it was really spring like here today. I had pre op today and nurse really emphasised taking it easy not lifting bending etc but definitely gentle walking little further every day. I'm gathering hospital stuff any tips?

Following that one noimnot, have asked family to bring in healthy things as hospital food grim!
Any ideas for constipation? Have heard it's not pleasant 😞

The first walk I went on was about 50 yards and took about 15 minutes, when I looked back I couldn’t believe what a tiny distance we’d covered but it soon got easier. Little and often!

Zazu.

Lots and lots of water, bran sprinkled on your cereal and the absolutely magic one... half a small glass of kambucha (health food shop) every day.

Doing a little more each day is a good approach. I found I would have a good day alternating with a tired day, but the overall trend was upwards - just take it at your own pace and listen to your body if it's telling you to rest.

Zazu44 Re. constipation - above all, don't rush things or strain. It can help if you hold a pillow against yourself, and brace your feet against something, to minimise the impact on your muscles. You can be prescribed a mild laxative if you need it. If you can minimise the codeine meds, that helps - I tried to keep them for overnight use only. The first time afterwards is by far the worst; once you have been once, it gets much easier.

I bought lots of liquorice, drank lots of water, ate lots of fruit. The hospital I went to gave me Senna laxatives & stool softener medication too but the constipation was still pretty bad.
Some little things I had in my hospital bag that made a nice difference was my lip balm, hand cream & an Evian facial spray. When I was feeling groggy & rubbish it was lovely to just spray cool water onto my face. I had one of those little squeezy bottles of squash too, just for some flavour when I was drinking gallons of water!

Getting a bit nervous now, how are you feeling noimnottryingforagirl? Thanks for the tips bertie going to start packing tomorrow. x

Bit nervous now, got a slight head cold so panicking a bit that gets worse and can't go ahead! Just be my luck! Had last day at work and wrapped everything up so does feel more real! Are u nervous about op or afterwards? I had pre op and she actually explained more what would happen and recovery which lessened my nerves a bit!

I just feel like I could easily burst into tears which is not like me! I think I'm scared about afterwards more and not being able to do things, also because I've had post menopausal bleeding I'm a bit worried what's hiding underneath. We will be fine I'm sure 😊

The phase where you're not able to do things isn't as bad as it sounds. It does free you of the guilt you can feel when resting 'normally' or with a minor illness - there's no voice in your head telling you you really ought to be vacuuming or cleaning or sorting the washing out etc. You can sit back and just focus on looking after yourself. And after the first week or so, you'll be able to do a bit more each day.

I'm a big fan of glycerine suppositories. Not such a shock to the whole system as laxatives like senna. Try to establish a routine at the same time every day, such as after breakfast, and definitely avoid any painkiller containing codeine.

On the subject of suppositories, I found pain relief much more effective when administered that way instead of orally. It was worth the embarrassment of the process!

The recovery period has still been nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be, I'd had it in my head that I'd be pretty incapacitated for a good while but its been easy to get mobile and it's just been dealing with how easy it is to get tired. I'm definitely finding it's an up and down recovery, I can have a really good day with quite a lot of energy but then I'm tired and have to rest up the next day.

Bertieallsort that's really reassuring that u are improving after couple of weeks! Less than 24hours to go for me and getting really nervous just wish it was over with! Given bedroom good clean don't want to be looking at dust!! Bag packed and as ready as I will ever be! For those who had ovaries out will hrt start immediately? I've been having some peri symptoms anyway but they didnt want to give hrt since oestrogen seems to have caused all my issues!

I'm feeling quite calm now Noimnottryingforagirl. Can't believe it's almost D Day. Have books, mags, nice shower stuff and puzzle books at the ready. Haven't actually packed yet and going to try and stay up late tonight as I figured we will be sleeping most of tomorrow anyway! Good luck tomorrow x

Good plan zazu44! I have to go in at midday so whole morning to panic in! Build up always worse than reality! Best of luck and update when u can x

Will do xx

I’m thinking of you both @zazu44 @noimnottryingforagirl let us know how’re you doing when you’re up to it

Greetings- I'm all done! Really tired but in no pain guess they give you a massive dose of painkillers in theatre. Had keyhole so that's good, lots of great advise from physio re lifting work sex driving etc.
Hope you're ok noimnottryingforagirl. xx

I'm glad it's all done, Zazu, and you're not in pain. Hope noimnottryingforagirl is OK too.

Had a bad night, combination of pain, twisted catheter 😕 and bloody selfish couple in next bed. Catheter out now and going home this morning. Dr only signed me off for 4 weeks is this normal? I've told work 8.
How are you noimnottryingforagirl?

4 weeks sounds short - I was given six for an abdominal operation. Your GP should be able to extend your sick note for as long as needed, though. I got another week after my 6 from my GP with no issues, and was ok to go back after that point. You might want to look at a phased return to work when the time comes as no matter if you feel well, it's exhausting when you first go back.

Sorry you had a bad night and the people next to you were noisy. Hopefully you'll sleep better in your own bed - use several pillows to find a comfy position - I found a pillow under my knees was helpful.

Bad night here too! Op began at 4 came round at 8 and on to ward, fell asleep at 12 but awake again at 2 combination of pain, these leg squeeze things that go off noisily every 15 mins and snorer next to me! On morphine now which really helps, hopefully going home later but seeing doc shortly! Definitely stay off 8 weeks zazu44 gp will do another cert!